Whether you think of Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride & Prejudice [or Pride & Prejudice & Zombies!] or Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones's Diary, Mr. Darcy is a character who comes across all aloof and snobby and unapproachable at first, but by the end is discovered to be a stalwart and totally appealing [and zombie-vanquishing, depending on what you're reading] gentleman.

Similarly, this sweater might look unapproachably elaborate and time-consuming, but it's actually a straightforward and rewarding project. And while this sweater will not bestow impeccable manners on the man who wears it [or protect him from zombies], it will keep him warm and cozy on weekend walks in the snow or long winter days at work.

The overall Dot Pattern pattern is easy to memorize and provides an interesting texture that complements the simple lines of the sweater. Worked in the round from the bottom up, the project is divided at the arm holes and worked back and forth for the front and back, and then rejoined at the shoulders.

SIZE
S[M, L, XL, XXL] (shown in size M)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest: 37.75[41, 45.25, 49.5, 53.75] inches
Length: 25[27, 27, 29, 30] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Elann Peruvian Highland Chunky [100% Highland Wool; 76yd/70m per 50g ball]; color: #0211 Mocha Heather; 18[19, 22, 24, 26] balls

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 16 inch US #10/6mm circular needle
1 32 inch US #10/6mm circular needle (a longer needle may be preferred for larger sizes)
1 set US #10/6mm double-point needles
1 spare circular needle, 24 inches or longer, US #10/6mm or smaller

Notions
Yarn needle
2 stitch markers in different colours

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Garter Stitch (Worked in the round):
Round 1: K all sts.
Round 2: P all sts.
Repeat these 2 rounds for garter stitch.

Dot Pattern (Worked in the round over an even number of sts):
Round 1: K all sts.
Round 2: [K1, p1] to end.
Round 3: K all sts.
Round 4: [P1, k1] to end.
Repeat these 4 rounds for Dot Pattern.

Dot Pattern (Worked back and forth over an odd number of sts):
Rows 1 and 3 [WS]: P all sts.
Row 2 [RS]: [K1, p1] to last st, k1.
Row 4 [RS]: [P1, k1] to last st, p1.
Repeat these 4 rows for Dot Pattern.

Directions for whip stitch can be found here.

DIRECTIONS
LOWER BODY
Using longer circular needle, CO 142[154, 170, 186, 202] sts. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work 4 rounds garter st.

Next Round (Round 1 of Dot Pattern): K71[77, 85, 93, 101], place marker to indicate side “seam”, k71[77, 85, 93, 101].

Continue in Dot Pattern until work measures 16[17, 17, 18, 19] inches or desired length to underarm, ending with Round 1 or 3 of pattern.

UPPER FRONT
Next Round: BO 1 st, work in pattern to side “seam” marker. Remove marker and place last 71[77, 85, 93, 101] sts of round on spare needle for upper back.

Upper front will now be worked back and forth in rows.

Next Row (Row 1 or 3 of Dot Pattern) [WS]: BO 1 st, p to end. 69[75, 83, 91, 99] sts.

Work in pattern until work measures 9[10, 10, 11, 11] inches from beginning of armhole, ending with a RS row.

Next Row [WS]: BO 17[19, 22, 25, 29] sts purlwise, p34[36, 38, 40, 40] (35[37, 39, 41, 41] sts on right needle after bound off sts), BO remaining 17[19, 22, 25, 29] sts purlwise. Break yarn, leaving a tail approx 18 inches long. Place remaining 35[37, 39, 41, 41] sts on short circular needle.

UPPER BACK
Place held sts of upper back on long circular needle and join yarn with RS facing. Work as for upper front, but do not remove neck sts from working needle.

COLLAR
Beginning at armhole edges and working toward neck, sew shoulder seams with attached yarn tails using whip stitch.

Using shorter circular needle, work all sts of front neckline in pattern, pick up and k 1 st at top of shoulder seam, work all sts of back neck in pattern, pick up and k 1 st in top of shoulder seam, place marker to indicate beginning of round. 72[76, 80, 84, 84] sts.
Work in pattern until collar is 3.5 inches long or desired length. Loosely BO all sts.

SLEEVES
Beginning at center of one underarm and using short circular needle, pick up and k 1 st in BO underarm st, pick up and k 66[72, 72, 82, 82] sts (approx. 3 sts for every 4 rows) around armhole, pick up and k 1 st in remaining BO st of underarm, place marker to indicate beginning of round. 68[74, 74, 84, 84] sts.
Work Rounds 1-4 of Dot Pattern.

Decrease Round: Ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Work 3 rounds in pattern, keeping pattern correct (see note below).
Repeat these 4 rounds 4[6, 6, 8, 8] times more. 58[60, 60, 66, 66] sts.

A note on keeping stitch pattern correct when decreasing: If the round before the decrease round was Round 2 of pattern, the round following the decrease round will also be Round 2. If the round before the decrease round was Round 4 of pattern, the round following the decrease round will also be Round 4.

Work Decrease Round. Work 5 rounds in pattern.
Repeat these 6 rounds 5[5, 5, 6, 6] times more. 46[48, 48, 52, 52] sts.

Work Decrease Round. Work 9 rounds in pattern (see note below before proceeding).
Repeat these 10 rounds 2[3, 3, 3, 3] times more, then work Decrease Round once more. 38[38, 38, 42, 42] sts.
Note: If shortening sleeve, work only 7 rounds between decrease rounds in this section, instead of 9. Continue in pattern until sleeve measures 18.5[20, 21, 22, 22] inches or 1 inch less than desired length.
Work 4 rounds garter stitch. Loosely BO all sts.

Work second sleeve in the same way.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Steam block lightly.

Cheryl Niamath lives in Vancouver, Canada. She can't seem to let a day go by without picking up her needles and knitting something. Her designs Fetching, Dashing, Wisp, Percy and Miss Honeychurch have appeared in previous editions of Knitty. She's also been published in knitscene and Interweave Knits.

See more of her designs and ideas on her website or find her on Ravelry as CherylN.